How to Get a Turkish Tax ID Number Online

Yes. Since GİB consolidated its digital services in 2023, the Interaktif Vergi Dairesi (ivd.gib.gov.tr) that older guides reference has been folded into the new Dijital Vergi Dairesi (Digital Tax Office) platform at dijital.gib.gov.tr. The foreigner tax ID application now lives at dijital.gib.gov.tr/foreigners/kimlikNoBasvuru. If you land on an old ivd.gib.gov.tr link from an outdated article, use this URL instead.

No. Both the online application and the in-person application at a tax office (vergi dairesi) are completely free. Be wary of any third party or "expediting service" that charges a fee purely for submitting this form on your behalf — it is designed to be self-service.

No. The online form does not have a document or photo upload step — you simply type in your details (name, passport number, place and country, parents' names, address, and phone number) and submit. Keep your physical passport next to you while filling in the form so you can copy the details accurately, but there is nothing to scan or upload.

No. Once issued, your 10-digit vergi kimlik numarası is permanent and does not expire or need renewal. It stays the same for as long as you deal with Turkish institutions, even if your residence status, address, or nationality documents change later.

They are two entirely different numbers issued by two different authorities. The vergi kimlik numarası (VKN) is a 10-digit tax ID issued by the tax authority (GİB) to any foreigner with just a passport — no residence permit required. The yabancı kimlik numarası (YKN) is an 11-digit number starting with "99", issued by the immigration authority (Göç İdaresi) only once you have a residence or work permit of six months or longer. You will likely end up with both, but you cannot substitute one for the other on official forms.

Yes. You can complete the online application from outside Turkey, provided you can enter a Turkish address — for example, the hotel or rental property where you will be staying, or the address of a friend, relative, or your future landlord. Many expats and property buyers do this before their first trip so the number is ready for bank and notary appointments.

The form itself takes around 5 minutes to complete, and the 10-digit number is generated and displayed on screen immediately after you submit it — there is no waiting period or approval queue for the standard online application.

This usually happens when a detail (passport number, date of birth, or name) doesn't match exactly, or when the system detects a possible existing record for you. If you get repeated errors, the most reliable fix is to visit any vergi dairesi (tax office) in person with your original passport — staff there can resolve identity-matching issues the online form cannot.

The e-Devlet (e-Government) portal is built around the T.C. kimlik numarası used by Turkish citizens and long-term registered residents, so it is not the primary route for a first-time foreigner application. The Dijital Vergi Dairesi foreigner form is the standard method for anyone applying with just a passport. Once you already hold a residence permit and a yabancı kimlik numarası, you may be able to look up or manage some tax records via e-Devlet.

It can. Users have reported the GİB portal blocking or behaving inconsistently for connections routed through VPNs or flagged IP ranges. If the page fails to load properly, times out, or the form won't submit, turn off your VPN and try again on a normal home or mobile connection.

Your vergi kimlik numarası does not expire and is easy to retrieve. You can recover it in person at any tax office (vergi dairesi) by presenting your passport, or by re-entering your details on the GİB online lookup tools. It is worth saving a screenshot or photo of the confirmation screen the first time you receive it.

Yes, if they will be named on a property purchase, bank account, or residence permit application. Each family member — including children — needs a separate application submitted with their own passport details; there is no single combined household application.

No. The potential tax ID number (potansiyel vergi kimlik numarası) is purely an identifier used to register you in Turkish administrative systems — it does not by itself create a tax liability or make you a Turkish tax resident. Turkish tax residency depends on separate rules, primarily how many days you spend in Turkey each year and where your habitual residence is. See our full guide on Turkish tax residency rules for how that is determined.

A vergi levhası is a printed tax registration certificate, mainly relevant to registered taxpayers and business owners who must display it at their place of business. As an individual expat obtaining a personal tax ID for banking, property, or residence permit purposes, you do not need a vergi levhası — that only applies once you formally register as a taxpayer, for example when starting a business.